Why Have Plain Wedding Photos When You Could Have Drone Wedding Photos?!

True, procuring a small, remote-controlled aircraft with photographic capabilities might not be the first item on your wedding to-do list, but what if we told you this is becoming a popular way to capture wedding footage?

For couples looking for truly unique wedding images, drone photography may be the answer. Initially used for real estate photography, many wedding pros are now investing in drones to capture never-before-possible aerial shots.

Newlyweds Jessica and Michael Aiello say adding a drone to their guest list was a decision they do not regret. “I’m so happy that we went with it and did it. I was all for it from the very beginning,” recalls Jessica, who admits she’s been a longtime fan of wedding cinematography but had never seen a drone before her big day. “My husband knew what it was when he saw it. But when I walked in and saw it, I was like, ‘what is this robot thing flying?’” she laughs.

The couple first heard of the idea from their wedding photographer, Ugo Iannuzzi. Iannuzzi, the owner of UProductions, recently added drone footage to his wedding packages. “The clients inquiring about drone footage typically understand its value and are looking to take wedding cinematography to the next level,” he mentions.

According to Iannuzzi, the use of drones at weddings will only continue to increase. “Drones have become popular because they add a wow-factor to wedding cinematography,” Iannuzzi says. “Aerial footage makes a couple’s wedding video fresh and interesting.”

He adds that he’s received inquiries from impressed friends and family of his clients who want to use drone footage at their own events. Jessica agrees that her guests were blown away by the same-day edit video shown at her celebration, and only then figured out the drone was capturing footage of the wedding. “A lot of people were amazed and came up to us to talk about the shots,” she smiles.

Five tips to help you decide if drone footage is for you:

Consider your venue. Open fields, golf courses and large venues are most ideal because it is easier for drones to capture sweeping footage, Iannuzzi says.

Have a vision for the kind of shots you’d want the drone to take. “Some clients want the drone to capture their guests arriving at the ceremony, while other clients prefer it to be used for landscape and venue shots, or to film their photo shoot,” Iannuzzi says. Discuss your preferences with your photographer.

Remember, drones are weather-dependent. “If there is extremely high wind or torrential rain on a couple’s wedding day, it may be difficult to operate the equipment,” Iannuzzi mentions. Some of the shots you’ve envisioned may not happen if you have to head indoors.

Keep in mind the unique perspective you’ll get on your big day. While you’re busy giving your Aunt Betty a hug, you may have missed your old high school classmates having a mini-reunion. “Long after the gifts are opened and the thank you notes are sent out, a couple is able to witness all the action again–but through a bird’s eye view that shows them details they may have missed on their wedding day,” Iannuzzi explains.

Expect additional charges. The charge for drone footage from UProductions, for example, starts at $1,000. For Jessica, it was worth it. “Considering the value you get out of it, I definitely don’t regret it,” she says.

Check out the awesome drone footage included in Jessica and Michael’s wedding video: